Do you suppose the St. Swithin's furnace-man was my one true love? Since I never spoke to him, it seems unlikely, but at least it was a passion unscathed by disappointment. Mary Ann Shaffer More Quotes by Mary Ann Shaffer More Quotes From Mary Ann Shaffer I have gone to [this bookshop] for years, always finding the one book I wanted - and then three more I hadn’t known I wanted. Mary Ann Shaffer finding-the-one book years I don't want to be married just to be married. I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with someone I can't talk to, or worse, someone I can't be silent with. Mary Ann Shaffer marriage life thinking That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you to another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically progressive - all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment. Mary Ann Shaffer reading sight book Men are more interesting in books than they are in real life. Mary Ann Shaffer real men book Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true. Mary Ann Shaffer secret perfect book I hope, too, that my book will illuminate my belief that love of art - be it poetry, storytelling, painting, sculpture, or music - enables people to transcend any barrier man has yet devised. Mary Ann Shaffer men book art I think you learn more if you're laughing at the same time. Mary Ann Shaffer learning teacher thinking I never met a man half so true as a dog. Treat a dog right, and he'll treat you right. He'll keep you company, be your friend, and never ask you no questions. Cats is different, but I never held that against 'em. Mary Ann Shaffer cat dog men I love seeing the bookshops and meeting the booksellers-- booksellers really are a special breed. No one in their right mind would take up clerking in a bookstore for the salary, and no one in his right mind would want to own one-- the margin of profit is too small. So, it has to be a love of readers and reading that makes them do it-- along with first dibs on the new books. Mary Ann Shaffer reading mind book Naturally curly hair is a curse, and don't ever let anyone tell you different. Mary Ann Shaffer curly-hair different hair Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books. Mary Ann Shaffer ruins reading book My worries travel around in my head on their well worn path Mary Ann Shaffer worn path worry Light griefs are loquacious, but the great are dumb. Mary Ann Shaffer dumb grief light It was amazing to me then, and still is, that so many people who wander into bookshops don't really know what they're after--they only want to look around and hope to see a book that will strike their fancy. And then, being bright enough not to trust the publisher's blurb, they will ask the book clerk the three questions: (1) What is it about? (2) Have you read it? (3) Was it any good? Mary Ann Shaffer clerks book people Isn't that something-to know your own soul by hearsay, instead of its own tidings? Why should I let a preacher tell me if I had one or not? If I could believe I hada soul, all by myself, then I could listen to its tidings all by myself. Mary Ann Shaffer soul should believe Treat a dog right and he'll treat you right - he'll keep you company, be your friend, never ask you no questions. Cats is different, but I never held that against them. Mary Ann Shaffer cat different dog Life goes on." What nonsense, I thought, of course it doesn't. It's death that goes on. Mary Ann Shaffer life-goes-on nonsense goes-on Because there is nothing I would rather do than rummage through bookshops, I went at once to Hastings & Sons Bookshop upon receiving your letter. I have gone to them for years, always finding the one book I wanted - and then three more I hadn't known I wanted. Mary Ann Shaffer finding-the-one book son People don't know how chickens can turn on you, but they can -- just like mad dogs. Mary Ann Shaffer mad dog people Those times, I tried to think of something happy, something I'd liked - but not something I loved, for that made it worse. Mary Ann Shaffer made-it made thinking